ATP Scheme

[Beast_Of_The_Cockpit]

Hello Pepes

I have just finished my frozen ATPL training (IR/MCC...) and am looking round for the next thing. Apart from Airlines I also spotted the CTC ATP scheme. At first sight this seems good to me. You get through the selection and training and then go straight to an airline.

Looking though these forums I see lots of talk about the Cadet scheme, but can't see much about the post cadet training scheme they offer.
What are people's experiences of this specific scheme? Good and Bad...
Are they worth looking at?
They claim that everyone who passes all 4 phases gets placed. Is that every graduates experience?

Please note again that I am talking about the ATP Wings scheme, NOT the ab initio cadet scheme.

Thanks

The Beast

[STORMER]

The CTC ATP Scheme definatly worked for me. If you just have a Frozen ATPL and you dont fancy taking the risk of Speculative buying of a Type Rating then its an excellent scheme. First off, you do not pay CTC any money until you get to stage 4 of the selection. Stage 1 is a application form. Stage 2 is a morning at CTC with group discussion and a couple of multiple choice exams. Stage 3 is a group task and individual interview. Stage 4 is the MCC and Jet Handling course which is the only bit that costs you money. (around 6K).
When I went through stage 4, 8 out of the 9 of us went straight into the holding pool (then out into a job the next day). My concern was that they would accept anyone onto stage 4 to make their money but after going through it myself I belive that this is not the case.
So lets say you get to stage 4, you pay your 6K. If you have not already done you MCC course then its almost as if you are only paying 3K for the advanced handling course and possible type rating. Say you get through you are placed in a holding pool you can be in there for a year or a couple of minutes. You then get sent to an airline where they either do your type rating or CTC will do it. For this time you are paid approximatly £800 a month and depending on the airline flight pay of some sort. This is for a period of around 6 months then depending on the airline etc they will hopefully take you on full time. If not you are out on your own with a type rating with around 500 hours and no bond or debt.
This was how it was when I went through 18 months ago and things may have changed with the ab-initio scheme in full swing now. My advice would be to go for it as it does not cost you until the latter stage and if it all works out they give you a nice jet and a job.

Hope this helps

Any further questions then please PM me.

[Beast_Of_The_Cockpit]

Stormer

Thanks for your reply. That is in line with my preconception. And thanks for the detail about the first 6 months work.
You mentioned that 8 out of 9 of you went into the holding pool. What happened to the 9th dude(ette)?
Did they not pass phase 4?
What went wrong?
6 K may not be so huge in aviation terms, but is still a lot of money to spend only to fall at the final hurdle. Do they have a second chance to pass again?

Thanks

The Beast

[STORMER]

Unfortunatly there are no second chances with stage 4. It would be unfair to comment on what went wrong for the 9th person as I was not partnered with them for the selection. But once you are through to stage 4 the odds are pretty good. Also with the first 3 stages there is plenty of help out there for making it through. You would be suprised how many people take themselves out the the running early on. For example during a group discussion one candidate sat back to touch up her make-up. Not good. Provided you make it through the first 3 stages then the excellent thing about stage 4 is that they are just after a standard and not a number. i.e if you are up against 8 people and all 8 people are good enough then you will all get jobs. If you are in an airline selection with only 2 jobs going there is alot more competition.
You have got nothing to lose with applying and it could take several months for the first stage and you dont really have to think about stage 4 till you are offered it.

All the best

[Inlet_Vane]

Does anyone know how many people are currently in the CTC holding pool?
Rumours are that it was reasonably empty some time ago.

[Beast_Of_The_Cockpit]

Thanks for your answers. I too am interested in how big the pool is currently.
Also, does the holding pool 'hold' both ATP and Cadet pilots together?
Are they given the same opportunity at all partner airlines or do ATP pilots have a reduced option?

[anticipate]

Hey folks

With regards to holding pool numbers, the numbers are very low at the moment and changing all the time. Pilots are not staying in the pool for long (although there are no guarantees).

Stormer

Thanks for your info. Can you enlighten us a little bit more on the style of questions in the stage 3 interview?

Cheers

[woof]

Are the stages for selection for Wings and ATP the same?

Can't find any info on ATP from the webpages about selection process being different, so would conclude it to be the same.

Could someone please help.

Woof